WATER STORAGE

[ddearinger]

I AM LOOKING FOR INFO ON WATER STORAGE SUCH AS SHELF LIFE AND HOW TO STORE LONG TERM NEXT TO THE FEW DROPS OF BLEACH PER GALLON. I WOULD THINK THERE IS A BETTER WAY. I HAVE SEEN SOME POSTS SAYING THEY HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS LIKE 8K GAL STORED AND I AM WONDERING HOW YOU DO THAT?

[just me]

Could you turn the caps off?

We store in 55 gal drums, add bleach and put the bung back in. I also have some larger food grade containers that have water as well. I just checked on the water from 2000 and it is fine. I added a bit more bleach and closed it up. It will most likely be stale to drink, but would be good for washing, cooking etc.

As for the 8k storage, that has to be a cistern, water tank or pond. We also have cisterns, but they need cleaned out. I plan on running the water out to the garden this year to empty the cisterns and clean them.

[BigFootsCousin]

You've got some excellent questions there that we've all wonderd about at some time or other.

I used to store water in blue plastic 55 gallon barrels and then I got tired of having that much 'weight' hanging around. Now, I only keep a little bit handy for the 1-2 day (or week-long) emergency because I figure anything more than that and I'll just go outside and get some from the creek or whatever.

So, I've changed my thinging as to how to filter the abundance of readily available water that is around me. Life for me is much simpler now.

BFC

[Southwind]

I AM LOOKING FOR INFO ON WATER STORAGE SUCH AS SHELF LIFE AND HOW TO STORE LONG TERM NEXT TO THE FEW DROPS OF BLEACH PER GALLON. I WOULD THINK THERE IS A BETTER WAY. I HAVE SEEN SOME POSTS SAYING THEY HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS LIKE 8K GAL STORED AND I AM WONDERING HOW YOU DO THAT?

If you live in an area of good rainfall, empty 55 ga drums can be placed under your downspouts and hooked up to each other. You can create your own supply that way, inexpensively.

[Liberty]

You are correct in that our water source is a cistern. It's under the family room, the same length and width, 8 ft deep, and made of cinder block/mortar.

The rain goes down the downspouts and diverts into the cistern. There's a pump/air tank/filtration system in the basement that pumps it up into the house water lines. It's very common.

Every few years we get a submersible pump, pump it all out, get inside with scrub brushes and mild bleach, rinse with a water hose, pump all that out, and let the rain fill it again. A couple times a year before a big rain we'll dump 1/2 gal bleach in it to kill the bulk of the bacteria before it gets to the main filter. It's soft, free rainwater. Just as nature intended. We've only had to have three loads of water delivered in 12 years, and that was during severe droughts. There are companies that do nothing but haul and delivery water.

Southwind's idea is very good too, as long as you live in an area with plenty of rain. If we didn't have the cistern setup, that's what we'd do here.

[Summerthyme]

BFC... I'm assuming you have a good water filter?

We have only enough water stored for 2 weeks of *drinking only* for our extended family... about 100 gallons, in 2 quart juice bottles, which we scrubbed and sanitized (you can get "no rinse" sanitizers from wine and beer making supply stores).

We have an artesian well, which requires no electricity to be able to get water, so my main concern was if we somehow had radiation or bio/chemical issues which came on so suddenly that we couldn't get the hose set up (already preplanned and on hand) which we'll run right into the cellar (through the pipes which hold the electrical wires for the pump now).

I've since decided that I also need to get a good water filter... probably a Berkefield, in case of contamination of the well (although artesian flows are, by their nature, relatively safe from that issue), or in case we had to get water from another source.

Unless you live in the desert, I'd think water collection setups and a good filter might be a better way to go.

Summerthyme

[BigFootsCousin]

Summerthyme, I have about 1/2 a dozen different types of water filters/purifiers of some sort or another. Plus, I've got three different types of tablet 'purifiers' as well.

Being a hunter, I've experimented with all types of water purifier systems and I can tell you, lugging water into the woods is a chore. So I decided since it was plentiful where I hunt to just get a device that allows me to drink right from the creek/pond/puddle/hoofprint or whatever and do as our forefathers did. My back thanks me and life is much simpler now.

Now, if we're talking strictly for household usage, that's an entirely different cat to skin. I actually have enough for about a month, if I stretch it a bit. After that, if things haven't gotten any better in my AO, then I guess that we're all going 'Commando' anyways- so my original hunting set-up will suffice.

BFC

[AK_Greybear]

This is a very good site for water info.

http://www.grandpappy.info/wwater.htm

- Greybear

-- Got Iodine ?

[north runner]

Got colloidal silver. Or there's a Katadyn product Micropur MC-2500 which has natural silver. It really depends on how pure the water you start with in a storage program.

[ddearinger]

THANKS FOR ALL THE TIPS. I HAVE DONE THE 55GAL DRUMS BACK BEFORE Y2K AND IT WORKED FINE OTHER THAN THE STORAGE SPACE IT BURNS UP BUT NO WATER=DEAD AND I KNOW THAT. I WILL PROBABLY MOVE TO HAVING MORE SMALLER QUANTITIES SUCH AS 5GAL CONTAINERS FROM CULLIGAN OR SOMETHING. I CAN MOVE THESE IF NECESSARY, WHICH IS MY THOUGHT IF BUG OUT IS REQUIRED. I WILL FOCUS ON FILTRATION AS WELL. THANKS AGAIN ALL!!!!

[ddearinger]

. I just checked on the water from 2000 and it is fine. I added a bit more bleach and closed it up. It will most likely be stale to drink, but would be good for washing, cooking etc.


HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? WHAT ARE YOU USING TO TEST?

[momof23goats]

I do have water stored, but I should empty it, and refill the jugs. i do not use bleach in my water ,it is hard on your kidneys, even in small amounts. i am really not worried about storing water, as i do have a well, and a gennie,and I live in a state, that you can go 4 miles in any direction from my house, and find a lake or river, or both. but I am going to order a berkey really soon. that way, I can take it , with me , if we have to grab and get, and not worry about where the water is coming from. and yes, i am going to get the black filters for it. i will also take pressure cookers with me, I can always distill it.

[Samurai Jane]

I'm thinking that an above-ground swimming pool would be a fun way to store a large quantity of water. Filter it through the Berkey if we need to use it for drinking or cooking.

[momof23goats]

would sure work for a while. JUst like a large horse trough, thinking of getting a couple of extra, to fill up, then can put the water through a berkey for drinking. your right.